Contact: Sarah McCord, Adventures In Missions, 800-881-2461 (ext. 212), sarahmccord@adventures.org 

GALVESTON, Texas, Sept. 30 /Christian Newswire/ -- Adventures In Missions (AIM), a nonprofit organization based in Gainesville, GA, is mobilizing relief teams to repair homes and businesses devastated by Hurricane Ike. They are asking for labor, not donations, to support the effort. Workers are staying with a church in Houston and are engaging in everything from demolition to food distribution in the areas near Galveston that were hardest-hit by the storm.

There is a particular need for people with specialized skills, such as general contractors and roofers. Athol Barnes, Director of Project Management at AIM, compared Ike's devastation to that of Katrina in 2005. After visiting Galveston to assess the damage, he reports, "We went through neighborhoods and houses that have four to five feet of water in them. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of homes that need gutting. This is something our teams do really well." While there is some need for monetary aid, Barnes insists that the loudest cry is for volunteers.

The areas most affected by the hurricane are between Houston and the Louisiana state line. These areas were already economically distressed before Ike hit, Barnes notes. Even many of those who were fortunate enough to have had insurance on their homes are finding themselves in difficult circumstances as some insurers are covering only the pre-Ike cash value of the properties. In most cases, such claims fall well short of the costs of tearing-out and rebuilding. "For many people, volunteer labor can be the very thing that makes rebuilding possible," Barnes says.

The storm was over 600 miles wide when it came across the Texas shoreline a week and a half ago.

Anyone who is able to make the trip is invited to Houston to extend a helping hand to victims of the disaster. According to AIM staff members on the ground, such a simple gesture communicates a profound sense of hope. Work crews will have all of their meals, supplies and lodging provided at a minimal cost. All crews will liaise with site coordinators familiar with the area and the specific needs. Interested parties are encouraged to call Sarah McCord at Adventures In Missions 800-881-2461 (ext. 212) or send an email to sarahmccord@adventures.org. You can also follow the relief updates and view photos of the area at the Hurricane Ike Relief Blog.